See All Of Australia By Train

Save More With Our Consolidator Airfares! (What are consolidator airline tickets?)
From:	Depart:	Adults:	Advanced Flight Search
city / airport codes		Child 2-11:	Roundtrip One Way
To:	Return:	Class:

Testimonials

"I found it easy to use, and let me rapidly pinpoint the travel arrangements I wished to do. Follow up communications were easy and effective." -- Alex, Boca Raton, FL

Latest Forum Posts

Re:Gas Shortages

Re:What music do you l...

Re:eco-friendly

Hotel George

Destinations

Become a member! It's Free!

Members receive our FREE bi-weekly newsletter filled with travel news and great deals. Members can also post to our travel forum including "Ask A Travel Agent" where a licensed travel agent will assist you.

Home

Community

News

Feature Articles

See All Of Australia By Train

Wednesday, 22 August 2007

If you’ve ever taken a trip by train, you’ve already discovered why some travelers swear by the rails. Compared to the cramped, annoying, rushed, scenery-free experience of flying by plane, on a train you can stretch out, enjoy your leg room, watch as beautiful, natural vistas pass by your window (often scenery that you’d never get to see otherwise) and just … relax. So what better way to enjoy a trip to Australia than by train?

The good news is that all of Australia’s major destinations are connected by rail, so you can plan an entire vacation by train. The most popular trains are the Indian Pacific and the Ghan, which travel from Sydney in the south and Adelaide in the north. Both of these trains pass through Alice Springs – so you can stop and visit Ayers Rock – and the whole trip, whichever direction you travel, only takes about two-and-a-half days. You can choose from Red Kangaroo or Gold Kangaroo service, which differ as far as amenities are concerned. Gold Kangaroo class passengers enjoy private sleeper berths, a lounge and bar car, their own steward, a guest reception with champagne, and complimentary tea and coffee. Red Kangaroo travelers have to rough it with convertible day-to-night berth accommodations, and they share toilet and shower facilities with the rest of the carriage.

The coastal leg of your trip can be planned using one of two major trains – the Tilt Train, which travels along the east coast of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns and Brisbane to Rockingham, or the Sunlander, which travels the same route but offers a premium upgrade. Their Queenslander Class service puts Sunlander travelers in twin-berth sleeping compartments that offer “all the comforts of home” like comfy robes and slippers, three meals featuring local fresh produce, and high-quality linens.

A number of trains will take you north into the outback, including the Spirit of the Outback, which leaves from Brisbane and travels through the frontier towns of Blackwater, Emerald and Barcaldine before arriving in Longreach, home to the famous Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, Qantas Founders Museum and the Outback Heritage Centre. If you’d like a shorter, more leisurely outback adventure, the Pichi Pichi Railway operates heritage steam trains that depart from Quorn and Port Augusta. They offer passage on a number of different old-school steam trains, a special dinner trains, and in October will offer a “Wizard’s Express” that looks very much like a certain train that delivers young wizards to their magic academy.

Comments

Add New